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TV Journalist says paper falsely quoted her in the slasher report

SHARJAH — Iqbal Al Tamimi, a TV journalist and one of Sharjah slasher’s victims, has asserted that she was quoted without her knowledge or consent by the local daily Gulf News.

by

Afkar Ali Ahmed

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Published: Mon 20 Jun 2005, 10:27 AM

Last updated: Thu 2 Apr 2015, 8:04 PM

Speaking at a Press conference organised by the Sharjah Police yesterday, she said: “The report written by Basma Al Jandly was false and fabricated, and most of the information stated were incorrect and inaccurate. I have never met the reporter nor did she call me for a comment.”

Al Tamimi said: “The fabricated Gulf News report published on February 25 mentioned that the assault could be motivated by my political or ethnic background, but this was totally wrong. I don’t have any enemies or political problems. I am carrying a Jordanian passport but I am of Palestine origin. The report also stated that I got stabbed when I was leaving my home at midnight, but this was inaccurate because I was attacked when I came back from a meeting with my colleague at Inter News Agency where I work as correspondent. Al Jandly reported that I was stabbed in the back, close to my spinal cord which is also wrong. I was actually stabbed on the side of my back where I had 20 stitches at the Al Kuwaiti hospital.”

She said that several media organisations had called her for her comments but that she had refused to provide them with information, because the Sharjah Police had requested her not to talk on the issue with the Press, as it would affect the investigation process and might cause the attacker to assault her again.

“All reporters from other newspapers who called me for a comment respected my explanation and no one published anything despite the fact that most of them had the correct information which they obtained from other sources including the hospital,” said Al Tamimi.

“On February 25, I was shocked to read the fabricated report published by Gulf News which contributed to damaging my reputation. My services were terminated from several media establishments where I was working as a contributor, because I refused to give them my comments and then it had appeared in the Gulf News.”

Al Tamimi lodged a complaint against the Gulf News reporter on March 2 for defamation and for quoting her without her permission.

Al Tamimi, a widow with three children, said that although she couldn’t have enough money to hire a lawyer to defend her in the court, she would not have hesitated to lodge a court case, even if she had to sell the house of her children in her home country.

Duraid Al Baik, UAE Editor, Gulf News, also attended the Press conference, but didn’t defend himself or his newspaper, nor did he comment on what Al Tamimi said. He remained silent throughout and left at the end of the meeting.

Major Arif Hassan bin Huwaidin, Deputy Head of the Moral Guidance Section of Sharjah Police, said that lifting the travel ban does not mean that the case against them had been dropped. The circular was issued by Sharjah Police to all airports in the country, because the reporters refused to respond to notices of summons sent to them by the Al Gharb Sharjah Police Station following the complaints filed by Al Tamimi, stressing that it was the duty of the police authorities to investigate and verify any claims or complaints lodged by any citizen or resident.

“We have followed the legal procedures applicable in such cases to all UAE residents and citizens. Sharjah Police have adopted the routine procedures taken when an offender refuses to cooperate with the police for interrogation in a case filed against him or her,” he said.

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